wait

A delay.

“I had a very long wait at the airport security check.”

An ambush.

“They lay in wait for the patrol.”

One who watches; a watchman.

(in the plural) Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians.

(in the plural) Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen. [formerly waites, wayghtes.]

To delay movement or action until the arrival or occurrence of; to await. (Now generally superseded by “wait for”.)

To delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness.

“Wait here until your car arrives.”

To wait tables; to serve customers in a restaurant or other eating establishment.

“She used to wait down at the Dew Drop Inn.”

To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect.

To attend as a consequence; to follow upon; to accompany.

To defer or postpone (especially a meal).

“to wait dinner”

To remain chaste while one's lover is unavailable.